A friend of mine has been posting Alice in Wonderland quotes as his facebook status and got me rereading the books. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are two of my favorite books of all times. And the Jabberwocky is one of the first poems that I remember reciting. I love the made up words (vorpal, snicker-snack). And of course the word chortle, which Lewis Carroll added to the English language. (no spell checker for this post) So without further ado, Jabberwocky.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wade;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree.
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came wiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
The illustration is again the original John Tenniel from the books.
2 comments:
Have you read Martin Gardner's The Annotated Alice? If not, go look for it. It's amazing. The entire Alice books, with amazing sidebars full of explanations, translations, and other wonderful things.
Including a word-by-word explanation of Jabberwocky. Brilliant, and fascinating.
How is it possible that I've missed this book? I'm heading to the library right now to pick up a copy. Thanks! And as always, great suggestion!
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